Mayor Bill Rauch has had a celebrated career in the political world, from being an important part of New York City’s Mayor Ed Koch’s administration to presiding over the city government in Beaufort, South Carolina. Spanning three decades, Rauch handled press for Koch, served as councilman for Beaufort, and became a three-term city mayor himself.

Rauch’s mayoral tenure began six years after serving on Beaufort’s city council when he sought an open seat left mid-term by the previous mayor. A large number of candidates ran against Rauch, but he won with 50.1 percent of the vote. Mayor Rauch was reelected twice, in 2000 and 2004. He has never lost a election. Drawing on his experiences working in both large-city and small-town government, Mayor Rauch wrote “Politicking,” a memoir and advice book for local politicians beginning their political careers.

As Mayor, Bill Rauch was responsible for intergovernmental communication between elected officials and the city, and he presided over all government affairs. In his first year, Mayor Bill Rauch settled seven city lawsuits left by the previous administration, which freed the city and provided new opportunities to partner with former adversaries. During his term, Rauch tripled Beaufort’s revenues without raising taxes. Rauch’s plan to encourage successful businesses to operate in Beaufort allowed for city growth, and he passed a city budget that was almost three times larger than before his term, which provided funding for various city causes. Mayor Rauch also worked to improve city parks and city service buildings, all without tax increases.

Bill Rauch was proud to serve in a small town with a strong sense of community after starting in government as the advance man for Mayor Ed Koch of New York City. A Harvard graduate, Bill Rauch worked as a news writer before he joined Koch’s administration. Rauch later became the longest-serving press secretary in the Koch Administration, managing several high profile crises during Koch’s third term. Rauch also ghost wrote Koch’s bestselling autobiography and helped Koch get reelected to a third term with 76 percent of the vote.

In addition to his political career, Mayor Rauch worked on Wall Street between Koch’s administration and his own, where he served as Managing Director for the Henley Group, which operated much like a merchant bank. Rauch also founded The Lowcountry Ledger, Beaufort’s first Sunday newspaper.